Measuring device for slug casting machines



y 1957 F. E. CALLERY 2,793,739

MEASURING DEVICE FOR SLUG CASTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 13, 1954 3f -34 39 7lol lsisllllgo llyslll sollrlillldglll llllllllll l llllllllll lllll'llll L 45 as 30 2s zq I5 10 5 3 Wnswrae MZ%MM,mwm

United States Patent MEASURING DEVICE FOR SLUG CASTING MACHINES Francis E. Callery, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application August 13, 1954, Serial No. 449,631

Claims. (Cl. 199--61) "This invention relates to a galley tool and more particularly to a measuring device for use in conjunction with conventional galleys or sticks which receive the type bars or slugs as they are cast from a printers slug casting machine.

I Infa conventional slug casting machine such as the Linotype, slugs are cast from dies positioned by means of a" keyboard, each slug constituting a line of written material to be printed in a page or in a sheet column. The slugs are accumulated in side abutting relation with the molded type disposed at the uppermost edge until a suflicie nt height of the slugs has been made up for a column or page of written material. The operator then removes the slugs while maintaining them in their relative position for locking preparatoryto transferring to the printing press.

In many instances, the printed page has an illustration, advertisement or other area which interrupts or interceptsa portion of the printed lines of type. In such instance, it is often necessary to cast a number of shorter slugs for the requisite distance or to interrupt completely the production of slugs for the height of the illustration or advertisement. The operator calculates the number of lines of full length slugs which he requires to make up the height of the intercepted area and then operates the machine until he observesby inspection that the requisite number has been approached. He then stops and actually counts the number of lines and subtracts from the number actually required, whereupon he completes the necessary additional slugs to make up the exact total. He then repeats the procedure for shortened slugs where written material'must circumvent the illustration or advertisement. The operator has available charts and data for calculating how many lines he must account'for in the vertical height, taking into account the point size of the individual type and the space between lines. 1 Obviously such procedure becomes tedious and there is strong likelihood of error being made, especially where the operator is interrupted during the slug casting operation and before checking the total number of slugs cast against the number whichare actually required.

It istherefore animportant object of this invention to-provide a simple and-efficient mechanical measuring device which will continually inform the operator how great a height of slugs have beenaccumulated and how far he must continue to cast the type lines in page or clolurnnl height for each group of full andof shortened sugs.

Another object is to providea tool which is adapted to cooperate with a conventional galley on a slug casting machine for quickly and easily measuring the height of the type lines as it increases with accumulation of slugs 0n the galley, yet permitting visual inspection of the type to determine the continuity of written material.

It is a further object ofthe invention to provide a measuring attachment for a slug casting galleywhiieh requires no special mechanical fastening means nor manual attention other than placing the parts thereof in the desired position with respect to the galley and its related elements.

These and other objects and advantages of the'invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the slug discharge end of a type casting machine and of a conventional galley secured thereto, my device having been mounted in intercepting relation and in contact with an accumulation of slu s;

l ig. 2 is an enlarged detail of my device taken from the top and shown in operative position on the galley; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of my device taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

With continued reference to the drawing, Fig. 1 discloses the discharge portion of a line casting machine Such as the conventional Linotype indicated generally at 10. The slug discharge feeds into a chute or guide 11 from which the direction of each slug 12 is changed so that it is delivered in upstanding edge relation with the molded type surface 13 uppermost and in side abutting relation with each preceding slug delivered from the discharge chute. The rearmost end 14 and the foremost end 15 are maintained in the position assumed by the slug at the time of discharge. A galley indicated generally at 16 is mounted on the line casting machine 10 and is secured to an arm extension 17 by fastening means 18 so that the galley is laterally positioned with respect to thedischarge end of chute 11. A feed mechanism 19 extends in pivotal relation from a stub shaft 20 which in turn is connected to the line casting machine 10 and a plunger rod 21 pivotally engages a rigid pin extension 22 secured to the feed arm 19. The upper and forward end of arm 19 terminates in a shoe 23 which is adapted to contact the last'slug 12 delivered to the galley and to advance the accumulation of slugs outwardly and onto the galley 16, then retracting and creating a space for the next subsequent slug to progress into.

The galley 16 has a pallet surface 24 which is preferably flat and constructed of metal, the surface being horizontal in its lengthwise disposition and tilted slightly downwardly and forwardly with respect to the discharge chute 11 of the line casting machine 10. The galley further'has an upstanding guide rail 25 disposed longitudinally of the galley and at the lower and forwardmost edge thereof. The guide rail 25 is adapted to receive in end-abutting relation each of the slugs 12 when the forwardmost end 15 has advanced to the position shown in Fig.1. A contact arm 26 is disposed at right angles to the guide rail 25 and hasa lower edge 27 which is adapted to contact the pallet surface 24 of the galley for its entire length. The forward end of the contact arm 26 terminates in an L-shaped bracket 28 which has secured thereto a friction clip 29 by means of interconnecting members 30 which extend from the bracket 28 over the upper edge of the guide rail 25 and in secure relation with the spring friction clip :29 which bears against the outer surface of guide rail 25.

My invention more particularly is directed to a printers tool which is positioned in cooperation with the advancing cast slugs and the various elements of the galley as will be particularly set forth hereinbelow. The device comprises generally an interceptor block 31 and a rule element 32. The interceptor block is preferably constructed of material such as cast plastic or wood having an elongated shape and rectilinear edge lines. The block 31 has an upper surface 33, a side surface 34 for contacting the forwardmost slug 12, an opposed side surface 35 for engaging the, contact arm 26, a lower sur face 36 for flatly contacting the galley surface '24, and

an outer end surface 37 for slidably engaging the guide rail 25. In addition to the'f-oregoing surfaces, the block 31 .is providedwith an abutment or offset shoulder 33 which is preferably in the form of a raised rectilinear por- 't'ion at the outer end 37 of the block 31 with the abutting surface 38 facing inwardly toward the medial area of the block.

A rule 32 is adapted to lie on the upper surface 33 of block 31 with spaced parallel edges 39, either of which maybe placed against the offset shoulder 38 so that the rule will lie at right angles with respect to the interceptor block 31 and in spaced parallel relation with the guide rail as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The rule 32 is preferably flat and constructed of metal such as steel having magnetic attractability. The surface of the rule may be provided with indicia which, in combination with the sidesurface 34, provides a means of measuring the distance in the direction of travel of the accumulated slugs 12 as they are fed from the line casting machine lltl down the chute 11 to the. galley 16.

Imbcdded within the block 31 at a medial area thereof is a permanent magnet 41 which preferably has an upper surface 42 lying in the same plane as the upper surface 33 of the interceptor block 31. A second permanent magnet 43 may be supplied at the opposite or bottom side of the interceptor block so that the outer surface 44 thereof will lie in the same plane as the bottom surface 36 of block 31. The first mentioned permanent magnet 41 is adapted to releasably secure the rule 32 to the upper surface of the block and in abutting relation with the offset shoulder 33 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be noted that block 31 is constructed so that the height from bottom surface 36 to top surface 33 is at least equal to that of the slugs 12 so that the rule 32 will overlie the slugs 12 while maintaining in surface contact with the upper surface 42 of permanent magnet 41. The permanent magnet 43 assists in holding theblock against the face 24 of the galley and may also be employed to hold the measuring device in some convenient and accessible location on the metallic structure of slug casting machine 10.

As will be obvious from the foregoing description, my measuring device is placed in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the side surface 35 in engagement with contact arm 26, the lower surface 36 in sliding engagement with the galley surface 24 and the end 37 in engagement with the guide rail 25. The rule 32 is then placed with an edge 39 across offset shoulder 38 with the permanent magnet 41 releasably holding the rule in flat engagement against the upper surface 33 of the block. The

rule is adjusted in relation to an edge such as side 34 to indicate lineal measurement which is required in the length of the slugs 12 advanced against the side surface 34 during the operation of the slug casting machine 10. In some instances, the permanent magnet 44 may be sufficient to frictionally hold the block 31 in firm engagement with the advancing outer surface of the forward end of the slug accumulation without requiring further support. However, I may conveniently employ the conventional contact arm 26 which is slidably mounted with respect to the galley surface 24 and the guide rail 25 through means of the spring friction clip 29. Thus there is no danger of the block becoming misaligned when firm contact is established at both sides with the accumulating slugs 12 and the side surface of the contact arm 26. When the predetermined length of slugs has been reached by visual observation of the coincidence of the inner end of rule 32 and the last slug cast from the machine, the entire accumulation of slugs may be removed from the galley and locked in a form for transferring to the printing press. Where a column of shortened slugs is required, the operation may be repeated, selecting the lineal length on rule 32 requisite to fill the space and visually observing when the proper distance has been traversed in the; accumulation of slugs. It will'be observed that the offset shoulder 38 creates a spaced relation between the rule 32 and the guide rail 25. This space makes possible the observation of the last few letters or words appearing at the end 15 of the lowermost or last delivered slug 12. This portion of the last slug constitutes the last portion of the Written material in the entire accumulation of slugs and the operator can tell at a glance where to continue with his type setting operation with a new accumulation of slugs'for a shortened series of lines or when proceeding to another page or column.

It may thus be seen that I have devised a unique and useful device which can be used without special attaching mechanism to the elements of a standard galley at the discharge end of a type setting machine, said device providing means for positively and precisely measuring the length of accumulated slugs and to obviate the necessity of counting lines during the type setting procedure.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the-form, details, arrangement and proportion of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A measuring device for determining the length of cast slugs in the direction of accumulation on a galley of a line casting machine comprising, an elongated rectilinear block having a side surface adapted to bear-against the outer side of an accumulation of cast slugs and in alignment therewith for mutual sliding movement, said block having a vertical depth not less than that of each slug, an abutment disposed transversely of the upper surface of said block and medially of the ends thereof, a magnetic attractable rule having indicia disposed therealong .and adapted to lie against said abutment and be adjustable in a straight line lengthwise of the rule to overlie said slugs while in contact with said abutment, and a permanent magnet mounted in the upper surface of said block for releasably attracting said rule against the upper surface of said block and in contact with the abutment.

2. In a slug casting machinehaving a galley with a guide rail, a contact arm frictionally mounted at right angles on said guide rail for sliding contact with the galley surface and'said guide rail, and means for feeding a side-by-side accumulation of slugs transversely of the galley and in endwise contact with said guide rail, the combination therewith of an interceptor block slidably engaged with the contact arm and adapted to bear against the leading side surface of an accumulation of slugs fed thereagainst, an abutment disposed transversely of the upper surface of said block and medially of the ends thereof, an elongated rule having indicia disposed therealong and adapted to lie against said abutment for adjustment in a straight line lengthwise of the rule to overlie said slugs while in contact with the abutment, and means releasably securing said rule to the upper surface of said block and in contact with the abutment.

3. In a slug casting machine having a galley with a guide rail, a contact arm frictionally mounted at right angles on said guide rail for sliding contact with the galley surface and said 'guide rail, and means for feeding a side-byside acculation of slugs transversely of the galley and in endwise contact with said guide rail, the combination therewith, of an interceptor block slidably engaged with the contact arm and adapted to bear against the leading side surface of an accumulation of slugs fed to the galley, an offset shoulder formed in the upper surface of said block intermediate the ends thereof and disposed at right angles to the side edges of the block, a magnetically attractable rule having indicia disposed therealong and adapted to lie against said offset shoulder for adjustment in a straight line lengthwise of the rule to overlie said slugs while in contact with said offset shoulder, and a permanent magnet irnbedded in the upper surface of said block for magnetically retainingthe rule in said adjustable position.

4. A printers tool for determining the length ofcast slugs in the direction of accumulation thereof on a galley at the discharge end of a conventional line casting machine comprising, an elongated rectilinear block having a side surface adapted to bear against the outer side of an ac cumulation of cast slugs in end alignment therewith for mutual sliding movement, said block having a vertical depth not less than that of each slug, an abutment disposed transversely of the upper surface of said block and lying medially of the ends thereof, an elongated rule of magnetically attractable material having indicia disposed therealong and adapted to lie against said abutment in adjustable relation lengthwise of the rule to overlie said slugs while in contact with the abutment, a permanent magnet imbedded with the upper surface of said block adjacent the abutment for magnetically attracting said rule While in contact with said abutment, and a second permanent magnet imbedded in the lower surface of said block for releasably holding the block and said rule against said slug casting machine during operation thereof and in readiness during non-operation of the machine.

5. A measuring device for determining the length of cast slugs in the direction of accumulation on the galley of a conventional line casting machine comprising, a rectangular block having an abutment surface for bearing against the leading side of an accumulation of cast slugs and slidable therewith on said galley, said block further having an end abutment disposed at right angles to said side abutment for riding in guide relation with the guide rail of the galley and an opposed abutment face engaging the conventional contact arm of the galley, an off-set shoulder formed parallel to said end abutment and located intermediate the ends of said rectangular block, an elongated magnetically attractable rule having indicia disposed therealong and lying in engagement with the upper surface of said block and against said parallel abutment, said rule being adjustable in a path parallel to the guide rail of the galley and positioned during use in clearance with the upper type face of said slugs, and magnetic means imbedded in the upper face of said rectangular block releasably holding the magnetically attractable rule in slidable position upon the upper surface of the block and in contact with said ofi-set shoulder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 550,263 Feldman Nov. 26, 1895 678,611 Clark July 16, 1901 1,649,495 Soucy Nov. 15, 1927 1,860,243 Goodbody May 24, 1932 2,020,269 Williams Nov. 5, 1935 2,305,376 Blum Dec. 15, 1942 2,568,575 Wickman Sept. 18, 1951 2,580,099 Jaeger Dec. 25, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 206,307 Great Britain Nov. 8, 1923 

